Vent d'est

Vent d'est ([vɑ̃ dɛst]; transl. East Wind) is a Franco-Swiss historical drama film directed by Robert Enrico, on a script co-written with Frédéric H. Fajardie, released in 1993.[3][4][5]

East Wind
Vent d'est
Directed byRobert Enrico
Written byRobert Enrico
Frédéric H. Fajardie
Based onThe Last Secret: Forcible repatriation to Russia, 1944–7
by Nicholas Bethell, 4th Baron Bethell[1][2]
Starring
CinematographyMichel Abramowicz
Edited byPatricia Nény
Music byKarl Heinz Schäfer
Release date
  • 20 January 1993 (20 January 1993)
Running time
110 minutes
CountriesFrance
Switzerland
LanguageFrench

Plot

At the end of the Second World War, a regiment of the First Russian National Army, loyal to Nazi Germany fled to neutral Liechtenstein to escape the Red Army.

Seeking asylum and salvation in this neutral state, these soldiers, along with some civilian associates, are warmly welcomed by the Liechtenstein government. Indeed, although returned by force in the country, Prince Franz Joseph II, Prince of Liechtenstein is understanding and accepts the refugees with the respect due to their rank of combatants. Russian General Boris Smyslovsky tries to monetize the surrender of his troops to U.S. Army rather than to the Red Army. He is working to take them to Argentina, a country where they will not be hunted down, but that is without counting on the hatred of the Soviets for these "traitors".

The film traces the efforts of the Liechtenstein authorities not to hand over these 400 refugees, and shows the lies and manipulations of the Soviets to convince them to return voluntarily. After promising them a new life as part of the reconstruction of the USSR, the Soviets managed to persuade about 200 of these men to return. On the return journey, the train stops in Hungary and all the "returnees" are murdered with machine guns.

Cast

References
  1. "Vent d'est (1993)". Radio Times.
  2. "The Genius of Malcolm McDowell". malcolmmcdowell.free.fr.
  3. "VENT D'EST (1993)". BFI. Archived from the original on September 20, 2021.
  4. "East Wind" – via mubi.com.
  5. Rège, Philippe (December 11, 2009). Encyclopedia of French Film Directors. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 9780810869394 – via Google Books.
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